Improvement in miter-boxes and miter-saws



To all whom it amy concern.-

'fig. 2

'DANIEL MCALLASTER, OF MAA-LDE'N, MASSACIIUSTTS.

Letters Patent No. 104,97 5, :lated July A5, 1870.

IMPRVEMENT IN WEITER-BOXES AND MITBR-SAIV'S.

-#wirf- The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent making part of the sama vBe it known that I, DANIEL MCALLASTER, of

. Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of ing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which- Figure` l is a perspective view of my improvedl miter-box. 'A

Figure 2 is a longitudinal. section through the ceuter ot' the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse scctionron the line :i: x of' Figure 4 is a perspective view, showing the construction of my improved saw. .f

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawingl A is the bottom or base, in which are formed three rectangular recesses or openings for the reception of correspondingly-brmed pieces, a b c, from each end of each of which rise a vpair of standards, A B G, of the form shown, and being only separated from each other by a narrow space, the width of' which is `just v vequal to the width of the back or frame (l of a saw, -I), which moves in it, the standards serving as guides to prevent any lateral motion from the angular line on which the stock is to be sawed and united.

The back of the saw is' composed of two parallel strips, 5, united by connecting-blocks 6, (see g. 4,) and extending longitudinally with the blade, the' outside of each strip 5 being grooved out, as seen at 7, fig.

#2, by which lconstructionthe friction of the saw within its standards is materially reduced, and the back is made hollow, and is consequently light and easily handled.

The line passing through the center of the openings .between the two pairs of standards A', is situated at exactly 45 (forty-five degrees) to the left of the horizontal line 8, forming the front ofthe base. A, whereby a miter of 450 (forty-live degrees) may be out.

. The two pairs of standards B are directly opposite each other, and the line extending centrally from the opening between one pair and to that between the other pair forms an angle of just 90o (ninety degrees) with the horizontal frontline 8 of the base, by which means a right-angular or square cut may be obtained.

'lhe line passing from the center ofthe opening between one pair of standards O to that between the other pair of standards 0, forms an angle to the right of exactlyl? (forty-five degrees) with the horizontal front lineS of the base, so that, when a molding has been mitered by the saw in the standards A', it will unite and snugly and truly tit a miter out in the standards O, and form a right angle as required.

One standard'of each .pair is provided with a slot, e, extending through it, in which a pin, f, may be raised or lowered, and clamped in place at the rcquired height by' turning a screw-nut, g, the said pin j' serving as a stop to arrest the frame or back of the saw, and. prevent the blade from entering the-base A after having cut ofI the molding or other stock upon it, and the stop also regulates the distance or depth which the blade is to out into the thickness of the article to be cut, when not required to be cut through, the stop being-carefully set at such a height that, when the bottonil of the frame or back touches it, the saw will have entered the precise depth previously determined on. Ilhe stop is made to project into the space between two standards of' a pair only far enough to arrest the frame, but lnot to come in the path ot' the blade of the saw.

When the stock is not to be cut perpendicular-ly through its depth or thickness, that is to say, at an angle other than a right angle to its sides, the following` device is employed.

E is a rectangular piece of board, hinged 1at h to one end of the base A of the miter-box. .l

'lis a rod extending transversely across the box, and passing through slots lt intwo opposite vstandards B.

This rod is moved up and down within the slots, and, when adjusted to the proper height'to cut the bevel required, the piece serving as a false bottom, E, is thrown over and supported by the rod, when the stock to be beveled is laid on the piece E, which thus serves as a false bottom, (see fig. 2.).

G G are La pair of standards rising from the back only of the base ofthe miter-box, and one of them is provided wit-ha slot, 9, and stop 10, to arrest the progress of the saw lower than the point determined on.

Surrounding the bottomof' these standards G is a lmetal ring or plate, H, fromfwhich extends an arm, 1,'

which is free to swing aroundin a horizontal plane to angles of various inclinations other than 45o, (fortyve degrees,) the bottom-of the base being recessed at m to allow of the traverse ot' the arm l, the under side of the outer end of which' is provided withia pin, a, whichv enters a series of holes, p, made at fixed points in the base A.

In the same piece with the metal ring, and projecting slightly above the base A of the miter-box, is au extended guide-plate or f`euce,7 I, which, on moving the arm l, is swung about so as to afford a rest or guide against which to place the stock when it is to be out atadiilerent miter than 450, (forty-live degrecs,) for instance, at an angle of thirty or sixty deg'ees, the fence being securely held in position by the pins a entering the holes p, whose position, with respect to the stationary standards and revolving fence, is such as to enable the operator to cut the angle re-l quired.

The back or frame of the saw may be solid, if desired, and made of metal, but I prefer to make it hol- `low and'ofwood, in order to 'lessen its weight and reduce the laborof using it.

By the application of my improvements the saw is prevented from havingany lateral motion, and the cut in or through the stock is made smooth, straight, and true, so that, when-two miters of symmetrical angles are matched together7 the joint formed by theirv union is perfect.

`What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Two or more pairs of standards, A B G, rising from" the base A, and provided with slots e and stops f, the whole constructed, arranged, and operating substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

Also, the guide-plate or fence I, revolvedaround a pair of standards, G, substantially as and for the purpose described.

Also, a hollow vor solid back-saw, D, providedfwith a groove, 7, on one or both sides, in combination with a pair of standards, :1s and for the purpose speeiiied'.v

Witness my hand this 6th day of May,'A. D. 1870.

DANIEL MCALLASTER.

Witnesses:

N. W. STEARNs, W. J. OAMBnmGE. 

